Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-04-19

me 49,. "a sh aLinis Ills head sorrowfully
sstyc can al. very httie fDF her, he said,
sadly she has but snort Tune iof TINS
world" a.,
herl1 sobhed the gricf-sireken girl. "She
/, MI ] have left in the world
~ fear not, Inv poor GIRL sally answered.
the l,ind-heafted physician, as ne brushed
tear from his eye with his handkerchief.
.,Yon had better prepare for the worst"
.s0h' INV poor Inotherl" she walled. ms she
,hre,y herself uu her knees beside the bed,
and claspfng Que thin, wasted hand III both
her own, she showerod passionate kisses on the
wan face. Mother, o motherf Don't leave
your little Girl | cannot live without you.
Snsak TO your darling Cora, mother" she
nieaded. piteously, while the tears fell thick
and fast on the psllid face of the dying
woman.
copiously aud Ronald uhcohsciousiy ieis ior
his handkerchief.
The invalid moved uneasllf, while spasm
of main passed across her features, as IL she
were suffering great mental or bodily anguish
mo, no, Cora. You know not what you
say, she moaned. III you knew the truth
YOU would curse me-
: och mother, don't talk So" wept the girl
..You see doctor, her mind is wandering. She
knows not what she says
~No. no; God knows 1t Is only too true"
groaned the woman. That Is what Is killing
men
,she undoubtedly has some secret that is
,reving unon her mind,r said Ronald. 'How
long has she been in this moodf'
Ever since she took worse" answered the
weeping Girl Il cannot understand It, She
raves about some strange woman of whom l
have never heard, ana Oh some great wrong
she has done to her,"
docs she ever mention her nameF' asked
the doctor.
know OF no such lady,"
ayes; do YOU know heri'' asked the wonder
ING girl. but before Ronald could answer the
invalid stirred with conyulsive movement
and stared wildly at Ronald.
eyes, yes, Mary Manford" she uttered,
yehemently BE quick; send for her, and
the girl. must see them before die"
Mary Manford of C---i' asked Ronald,
In bewilderment.
s'Yes,n gasped the woman. ION, Tor heav-
ems sake be quick or it will be too late. l
cannot, | will not die until l have confessed
her my great stu, ana she lay pach on the
bed exhausted.
This is something serious" said the doc
tor to Ronald. "If you know the lady she re-
fers to you had better send for her at once;
and the sooner the better, Tor she cannot live
many hours at the farthcst."
Wondering in what manner the unfortunate
woman could have wronged Mrs Manford,
Ronald FASTENED to a telegraph Office and dis
patched message TO the lady, urging her 10
come without fail on the next train.
As there was direct line OF road running
to C, which was only about sixty miles,
lie knew that she would arrive in few hours
In the meantime Ronald and the doctor re-
maned with the dying woman, soothing her
agitation and comforting the afflicted Cora.
She continued to rave violently at intervals
for some time, moaning piteously, and calling
upon MARY AIanford. Once they thought the
strugg c was over, but she finally rallied, and
after that became more quiet
When Mrs Manford arrived she was resting
quietly and had fallen into gentle sleep
Mrs. Mauford had arrived in the city in
great anxiety and agitation, for Ronalds
message had not enlightened her as to the OBJ
ject oil her hurried journey; but he explain
ed Tue situation to her MS well as he was able
on their way from the depot to the house. She
had not told Rose of Ronald's message, for
she feared that in her delicate health the
consequences might prove disastrous.
She went directly to the bedside and scan
ned her features closely fer several moments.
Il do not recognize the face" she said.
What is her name!"
"Jeanneite Corbev," said Cora.
''I'he name also is new to me. She Is sure
ly laboring under some hallucination.'
Here the invalid awole. and, opening her
eyes, she gazed ntenty at Mrs. Mantord.
80 You have come ut last" she said.
yes; but do not agitate yourself uDnec-
you have never wronged me in the least as
sure vou.h
"Alasl there is no mistake" moaned the
poor creature 81 have done You an irrepar-
able injury, and l felt that ! could not die in
peace without confessing to you and receiving
your forgiveness"
You have my full and free forgiveness al
ready, Mrs. Co-bey, although | cannot con-
ceive how you have ever wronged me" said
Mrs. Manford fervently
kRttt tt-ia 10 i ,Nl
Mrs. Corbey, looking about the Dom.
Her delicate health would not permit of
her coming on SO long a journey"
80 God! And I had longed SO to see her
once more" groaned the sufferer. But
suppose it was intended as part OF nv punish
ment that / should be denied this blessing.
Iou recognize me, Mrs. Maufordl'
No; | am certain that do not"
do you remember the young widow you
once engaged as nurse for your little child!n
Yes; but had forgotten her name. Ars
YOU shef'
Yes
81 never saw enough of you to know you
very we'll | was absent with my husband
in Europe for nearly a year at the time re-
member that when | returned | complimented
you very highly for the excellent care YOU had
taken of the child"
You would not have done so had YOU known
the truth groaned Mrs. Corbey.
What do you mean!' asked Mrs. Manford.
My object in sending for YOU was to an
swer that question. But l must be brief. for
am failing rapidly, and feel that l have but
few minutes left in which to speak," and
here the dying woman paused few moments
for breath. The great change was coming
over her rapidly, and death was fast impress
ing his great seal upon her face, while the
death damps were already accommodating upon
her brow.
Years ago" she continued, "when was
Jeannette Morley. was an innocent young
girl, as free from the vices of the world as an
angel. was happy, too; for had an idolizcd
lover whom worshiped with all nv heart and
soul, and who l then fondly believed cared
more Tor me than any one else in the world
although he had never told me so in words :
I ana when vou came between us and won
fercy Man1oruS love away from me- the de-
mon was aroused with me. | cursed YOU
| with bitter curses; l. heaven help me, called
upon the evil one to visit you with the most
ulrelui ealamltes. | even prayed in my mis-
cry mat might die. IN my modification
ana despair | married 4 man whom | never
loved for | have never loved any one
but Percy Manford. My husband died in a
short time, and left me with an infant daugh-
Ter ana IN AFFECT poverty. When YOU came to
| me at that time asking me to care for your
llttIe babe the demon was again aroused with.
IN me- l accepted the trust with the delib-
crate intention of wreaking a fearful ven
%cauce upon YOU You left the child with me
ana never saw it again for nearly a year The
TWO girls yours and mine, were about the
same age. / had so worked upon nv mind
mat mad brought myself to believe that YOU
nsd Done me great wrong, although reason
should nave told me it was false for Won had
never known me; but in my mad misery | was
I ready to believe anything. | thought with
Dlttef Feelings OF my child doomed to life of